Mariana Mendes has set out to empower women in a way only a few other people can. The 24-year-old Brazilian was born with a large black birthmark in the middle of her face. She could have had it removed, but chose to keep it and wear it like a badge of honor instead. Mariana went for treatment, but in the end, chose to forgo the process, and her reason has us feeling super proud of her!
Mariana Mendes hails from Juiz de Fora, Brazil. The photograph you see is of her taken on the day she was born. Yes, you noticed it right. Mariana was born with large congenital melanocytic Nevus due to a pre-natal mutation in the infant's skin cells. “A lot of people ask me about my birthmark, sometimes they think it’s makeup or a tattoo but I don’t mind and explain it to them,” she said. The life of this girl who is currently 24 years old and the spirit she has displayed is as rare as the condition with the probability of 1 out of 20,000 babies born with it.
It became a matter of concern for Mariana's mother who looked at her child's Nevus and was forced to think that her child would be bullied. It was because of this that Mariana was made to go through medical treatments for satisfying the purpose of reducing the size and severity of the birthmark. Her parents were hoping for the treatment to be successful so that they don't have to always be worried about their daughter who aged 5 at the time of the treatment.
After the treatment, the results were not that noticeable as Mariana's parents had hoped for leaving them distraught. But, surprisingly, it boosted Mariana's confidence and will to live her life in the same state as The Almighty had gifted her. She told her parents that she was in no mood to get rid of the mark as this made her unique and even stronger.“I’m grateful for that, because if I was old enough to understand I would never have wanted anyone to change my nevus in the first place,” She told the Daily Mail. You won't believe what this girl has gone on to do and achieve in her life.
“Having a nevus that is as large as mine is not common, so of course, there are many people who stare and who don’t like it, but I don’t care,” she said. It is because of this bold attitude and sheer hard work that Mariana has made a name for herself in the modeling industry. She has silenced everyone who called her ugly through her photoshoots which are quite inspirational.“I feel more beautiful and totally different from other people because I have a nevus,” she stated. Her mark has become her unique identity helping her to reach new heights.
The story of Cassandra Naud, a 24-year-old professional dancer from Alberta, Canada has a lot in common with that of Mariana Mendes. Apart from being born with the same condition as hers, she displayed the same courage and confidence to refuse to get her Nevus surgically removed and embrace her uniqueness rather than considering it as something that ruins her beauty. No wonder this decision changed her life completely.
In an interview, Cassandra revealed that when she was small she was not as confident and bold as she is now. Growing up, she had to face criticism from her peers who would also go on to say that she wouldn't be able to survive in high school because of the mark on her face. Though there were times when she was tempted to rethink her decision of not getting it removed, her spirit never allowed her to take any significant step towards getting a surgery. As you read on, you'll find out that her decision eventually proved fruitful for her.
Cassandra did well in high school and proved everyone wrong who had stated earlier that she wouldn't be able to survive it. Not only this, she went on to attend American Musical and Dramatic Academy in L.A. in order to fulfill her dream of studying dance and musical theatre. After completing her graduation from the academy she started working as a professional dancer and astonishingly, has appeared on popular networks like ESPN and Nickelodeon. So, in the end, the mark on her face which everybody considered would act as a hindrance for her to live a normal life turned out to be something that propelled her towards success.
Originally from Georgia, Nikia Phoenix is a black woman with red hair and freckles. Now, this is a complexion that most people associate with white people unaware of the fact that a human from any race can take birth with it. She initially faced a lot of hate comments with people calling her "ugly" and even "gross", but, it was after she moved to Los Angeles that her life took an unexpected turn. She was spotted by the owner of Alternative Apparel which eventually, led to the initiation of her modeling career.
Her freckles started to be deemed beautiful and led to her appearing in numerous television commercials, magazine covers, and on billboards. She is a versatile woman a statement which gets justified seeing her career as an entrepreneur, model, writer, and activist. In an Allure interview, she stated that the absence of the challenges she faced when younger would not have seen her through to a successful stage where she is currently. “I wouldn’t change what I went through. These freckles have helped to define me. They have made me stronger. I am a black, freckled woman…and proud,” were her words.
Utilizing the fame she has acquired through modeling, Nikia Phoenix sees herself as the founder of an online platform called “Black Girl Beautiful”. The main motive behind this is to motivate women to embrace their beauty regardless of the form and never be deterred from the mean things others say about you. The image you see is of one such inspirational post that Nikki shares. She has used the tagline “Remember Black Girl, you are beautiful.” But, as you read on you will realize that Nikki is not the only woman in this world to turn the tide in her favor and inspire millions due to her unique complexion.
Connie Chiu who hails from Hong Kong was born to a Chinese family. She has albinism which is a congenital disorder in which a person loses the ability of melanin production. It was because of this condition which makes her skin and eyes extremely sensitive to UV damage that she moved to Sweden from Hong Kong at the age of seven. She started living with her sister in Sweden where her life took a completely new turn.
When Connie turned 25, she with the help of her sister started her modeling career and never looked back since then. Chiu was quite frank while talking about albinism in an interview with Vice,“I guess I always knew I was different, but I feel exactly the same as anyone. I was made like this. It’s like being born with arms—you don’t go around saying, ‘Oh my God, arms!’ They’re just there.”
Chiu recalls with a smile that unlike other students who were bullied because of their different appearance, her looks intimidated them. She adds that her relatively taller height than other girls and unique style of dressing was also a major reason for scaring anyone who thought of picking on her. One can watch a video on YouTube where Chiu candidly discusses her life experiences as an albino.
Khoudia Diop born on 31 December 1996 comes from the African nation of Senegal. A supermodel by profession, she is famous by the name of "Melanin Goddess." When young, things were not as sunny as they are today for her. She was bullied at school for her dark complexion and had to face harsh comments from people around her. She even recalls that at the age of 12, she was on the verge of getting her skin bleached being forced by her brothers to do so.
Diop was first introduced to modeling at a tender age of 15. It was after she moved to Paris, France that photographers started to approach and encourage her to step into the world of modeling. As she later said to NPR, “I was scared because I didn’t know what I was getting into. But almost everybody was telling me, why not? So I did it because I wanted to inspire girls. When I was younger I didn’t have any inspiration to like the skin I was in.”
After solidifying her position as a successful model while in Paris, Diop next mission was to move to New York. Here she added wings to her already booming career by getting involved with The Colored Girl Project (a campaign to celebrate black beauty). She seems relieved while recalling that she did not pay any heed to peer pressure and chose not to get her skin bleached when young. Till date, you can witness her Instagram full of inspirational posts with the message of loving oneself as we are born.
This woman from South Africa is an inspiration for all. Thando Hopa aged 24 is an albino, wait, before forming any judgment about her as some do let me tell you that she is a famous model and a lawyer. She faced a lot of challenges in her life at an early stage as being an albino is considered equal to a curse in most parts of Africa. Still, the lady who completed her studies in Johannesburg considers herself lucky enough to be catching the attention of the right people who helped her to make a name for herself in the modeling industry.
Surprisingly, Hopa who is known for her amazing success in the modeling world admits that her passion was to make a name in legal practice. It was her sister who once told her,“Don’t look at modeling as modeling. Look at it as an opportunity for you to actually change the perception of albinism. Remember how you grew up. Remember how people really treated you,” that encouraged her to participate in fashion shows. Well, seeing where she is now the decision seems to be a wise one.
Hopa is an epitome of someone with strong will and confidence to face even the most difficult of challenges that life throws. Initial success in her career made Hopa realize the importance of embracing one's uniqueness. an ecstatic Hopa says,"I received some very positive feedback from young girls with albinism. If you don't see positive examples, you wallow in self-pity. I just hope it turns into another shade of normal." Well, we all hope that Hopa's wishes come true and girls like her get inspired to present themselves in front of the people as they are without a doubt in their capabilities.
The name of this gorgeous model is Chantelle Brown-Young. However, if you are an avid social media user, you would have probably come across her photos with the name Winnie Harlow. This is the public name by which this Canadian model is mostly referred to as. As you can see, this model has a skin condition that we all know called vitiligo. Her vitiligo has definitely made her stand out and has catapulted this lady into the very top strata of the modeling world.
Winnie Harlow's skin condition does not stop her from going after her dreams. In fact, it has made her more focused and driven to make it in the world of high fashion. Vitiligo is a condition that causes one's skin to lose pigmentation, hence making the skin turn white. Harlow was a contestant on the very popular television show called America’s Next Top Model which was produced by Tyra Banks. She had received multiple nominations for the model of the year since her modeling career took off.
Winnie Harlow is one inspirational model who absolutely refused to let what other people would consider a flaw, get the best of her. Instead, she made herself more hardworking and did not take no for an answer. She is now one of the most sought-after models in the world and can be seen hanging out with other famous faces like Bella Hadid, Rita Ora and such. She has managed to score some major contracts and her impressive 3.1 million Instagram followers prove that she is a force to be reckoned with.
You may have come across this distinct beauty who goes by the name Tarren Johnson. If you are wondering what she does, then allow us to tell you all about this lovely woman. Tarren works as a model and a dancer as well. Just one look and you can tell that this person is blessed with unconventional features that would automatically separate her from other ordinary folks. She was actually born with these bright red curly hair and freckles to cover her whole face as well.
Most of us would be very conscious and shy if we looked like Johnson, but the model does not shy away from people. In fact, she has embraced her looks and appreciated her uniqueness. When asked about her physical features, she explains what she feels and says, “I am someone who owns my own look and I am not apologetic about not fitting the stereotypical images portrayed of what a woman should look like." She really is one inspirational woman who does not try to fit into society's beauty norms.
Johnson has a very different approach to her clothing and her art as well. She is considered to be one of the most important artists that we have these days. She acknowledges her platform and tries to do whatever she can to make the world more positive and open. “I have built a career from standing out and I hope to continue to offer an alternative to what is considered beautiful so that people’s minds can be broadened through visuals,” she explains, as she speaks about her work.
Have you ever seen some people who you could broadly call white? You know, those people that are not just fair but white in color? They are actually born with a condition known as albinism. A very minute number of people are albinos. The pigment from the skin and hair have been removed, hence they are white all over the body. These people have been mistreated and separated from the ordinary folk throughout the history of time. But Shaun Ross has definitely changed the game for albinos.
Shaun Ross had been working hard as a public figure to work towards the awareness and betterment of people born with albinism. He is one of the most popular male models in the whole world today. He, through his many ad campaigns, has shed some light and knowledge on the skin condition called albinism. Shaun Ross was initially a dancer before his modeling career took off. He appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, and soon the rest was history.
Shaun Ross had been stirring up a conversation and turning heads everywhere he goes. His unique looks have definitely made him the center of attention, directly or indirectly making people talk about albinism and albinos. He had worked with most of the top fashion brands like the iconic fashion house Givenchy. Ross was also cast in Beyoncé video, “Pretty Hurts” and even starred in Katy Perry's music video for "E.T". He is now working on his own music and hitting the studios every day.
What would you do if you discovered one day that a part of your body is missing? Would you want to go on if you realized that you were missing a leg or an arm? Well, that is exactly what happened to former Marine corporal-turned-model Alex Minsky. This man had graced the pages of top magazines like GQ. A roadside bomb in Afghanistan was the reason for this man having to cut off his right leg in 2009. He was in a coma after the bomb blast only to find out what he had lost.
While many of us would frown and let this kind of trauma and hardship have a negative effect on ourselves, the opposite happened to Minsky. He was not about to let his demons win and consume all the thing he had left. As soon as he was released from the hospital and was placed back in his home, Minsky turned to fitness. He did so to clear his head and remain as positive as he possibly could. He worked hard and trained hard to stay fit and as healthy as ever.
They say that if you remain positive enough and you believe in yourself, sooner or later, something good is bound to take place. Well since he did not lose hope and kept his cool, Minsky looked better than ever before when it came down to his physical appearance. He did not skip a day in the gym and his focus was unstoppable. So one fine day, a fashion photographer spotted him working out at the gym. His modeling career took off and he has even posed naked, Talk about confidence man!
We have seen a number of people who were born with albinism on this list. The next person is also someone born with albinism. Her name is Nastya Zhidkova, and she is a Moscow-born model. How did this model get to have her big break? Well, she gained popularity after taking part in Japanese anime cosplay. She became a fan favorite and soon after her modeling career started hitting off. She is now working as a top model who travels all around the world because her unique beauty is on high-demand.
Back in the year 2015, Nastya spoke on her skin “condition” having an interactive session with her fans. She spoke about her many struggles regarding her health and explained to them what she had been going through all her life. Nastya explains,“I am an albino. I have poor eyesight, it is not measured in diopters. I can not describe my vision. It is 8% of the 100 as I know. I have no relatives albino, my parents are dark.” It must take a strong person to be able to withstand all these problems.
She may be facing all of the problems but Zhidkova has obviously not let any of this hold her back. She did not see them as setbacks but looks at them as minor flaws she would need to ignore to get to her goals. She has become a popular model not just in her native land but has garnered fans all over the world. Her fame is exceptionally impressive in Japan because people love the fact that she indeed resembles a character straight out of the anime cartoons.
In life, anything can go wrong at any minute and you can never be so sure of what comes next. Just ask Lauren Wasser. Lauren was working as a model before she suffered from toxic shock syndrome. This caused her to lose more than she had ever thought possible. The doctors had to remove not only her right leg but even the toes on her left foot had to be cut off. If this were to happen to some of us, we would definitely lose the will to live on.
Lauren was building her reputation as a model when this happened. She was slowly working towards the top of the modeling world when all of a sudden, she had to face the severe health problem. When the toxic shock syndrome hit her, Lauren was just 24 years of age. For a model such as her, 24 is the age in which your modeling career is in full bloom and when you are doing the best in your career. It was unfortunate that she had to go through such an excruciating ordeal.
Lauren took the operation rather well and did not look for things to complain about. The operation was a success and she had to stay in the hospital for a long period of time. After having a successful recovery, Wasser made up her mind that she was still going to model. She did not want to let this beat her down and so she worked hard to get back into shape even with just one leg to use. She proved herself and all the other as well that she has still got it because the images she takes are still breathtaking.
For people who are born into this world with a deformity or a disability, they often become more accepting than you would expect. While most fully functioning people might feel bad for them and expect a sob story from them, people born unique sometimes turn out surprisingly understanding. Take this model for example. Shaholly Ayers was born into this world without one arm. She had been bullied and often told that her life would never amount to anything.
Growing up in a negative space might break some people but not her. You see, Ayers did not let all these harsh words get to her heart. Since she was a little girl, Ayers had always dreamed of becoming a fashion model. But what agency would book a model who did not even have two functioning hands right? Ayers knew that agencies were not going to sign her, so she decided to take the matter into her own hands. She compiled her own portfolio and took the role as her own advocate too.
Well her hard work paid off and Ayers was slowly booking jobs. She did not expect to gain so much attention when she decided to take control of her own career. But she proved to herself that she really could do it with the right kind of attitude and drive. Ayers had done some impressive work and she had even graced the ramps of the New York Fashion Week six times.
This inspirational model is called Melanie Gaydos who is 29 years of age. She has a medical condition known as ectodermal dysplasia. This basically means that her bones, teeth, nails, and pores are abnormally shaped or formed. Melanie is also partially blind and has alopecia that had resulted in her bald head. She is an art graduate who did some modeling for fun. She gained a lot of buzz and even she was pleasantly surprised by the amount of attention she received. Miley Cyrus loves her work and is a big fan of hers.
Melanie Gaydos has talked about her career with multiple reporters. She has been very open about her modeling career and what it had done to boost up her career. “I have definitely become more confident with who I am and myself. I stopped wearing wigs and started modeling,” she explains when asked about how modeling has changed her perception of things. She is one confident woman who could have played victim but instead chose to take control of her life and happiness.
She speaks further about herself and tells the interviewers the positive things that her modeling career has helped her with.“In a way, I was forcing myself to learn more about who I was and to become more comfortable with who I am at my core and natural state of being. This whole process has helped me become more confident, stronger and happier in my existence.” Melanie is one motivational human being who is a clear example that staying positive pays off.
Here is another model who has not let her physical deformity get the best of her. Meet Paola Antonini. She is a Brazilian model who had to have her legs cut off back in the years 2014. A drunk driver had crashed into the model's car and had caused a severe accident. After the life-threatening accident, Antonini’s life was never going to be the same again. She lost her leg and since she was a model, what was she going to do? Was this going to end her career?
Well, on the contrary, Antonini's career did not have a speed bump. She did not let this hinder her work and remained very focused. Antonini's modeling career was not taking a halt at all and she was in fact still as busy as ever. Even with a prosthetic leg, the model had managed to take photographs beautifully and is still rocking the ramps as well. She remains very positive and her self-confidence is commendable. Her new prosthetic leg is a good example that proves this. It is gold in color.
We have seen many unconventional beauties on this list and all are encouraging people to embrace their uniqueness and difference. This model named Diandra Forrest is another example that will truly inspire you. She is photographed here with the trophy she received where she received the Unconventional Beauty Icon Award in Austria. Just by looking at the model you can tell that she does not have that girl next door look and is not your typical model either.
This model is also an albino. She had been teased and made fun of all her life for her albinism. She was bullied as a kid and had always had a hard time growing up just because of the way she was born. Forrest is now a top fashion model who has been on the cover of Ebony magazine. Her main goal is to spread positivity and to help children with the same condition, who are going through the same thing she dis while she was growing up.
She is an advocate for albinism and had garnered massive popularity for her modeling work too. She has spoken about what people can do to make the lives of albino children better and has been stated “[the parents] want to know how they can explain it to their children and classmates, or ask what the best sunblock is,” and the model is willing to help out in any way she can.
The Nebraska-born model named Ashley Graham was signed to IMG Models in 2014. She was signed with 4 other models as 'plus size' models by the agency. With her boldness and her charm, she quickly worked her way to the top of the modeling food chain. She is now rubbing elbows with the supermodels of this generation like Gisele Bundchen and Karlie Kloss. She is changing up the beauty standard of the fashion world and is proving that size zero is not the only size.
She had been very bold and outspoken about topics like body diversity. Since the modeling world is full of skinny girls that do not fit most of an ordinary woman's body shape, Graham has spoken against the term 'plus size' a couple of times. She had spoken to many news outlets about this issue and admits, "I do not like being referred to as a plus-sized model," Graham adds, "I am a model, and I don't need my job title to explain the dimensions of my body."